Outdoor Research | Sun Bucket | 2017 | $35 | 60g
The Sun Bucket is an SPF 50+ bucket hat with a short two-and-a-half inch brim, poor breathability, adjustable drawcord for sizing, and adjustable chin cord for retention in the wind. It’s made out of synthetic fabrics, primarily ripstop nylon.
Bucket hats are my latest attempt at sunscreen-free sun protection for my head and neck. Previously, I’ve tried a sun hoody (ExOfficio Sol Cool Performance Hoody)/trucker hat combo as well as a trucker hat with a sun cape (Outdoor Research Trucker Sun Hat). Compared to those setups a bucket hat has the following benefits:
- Doesn’t restrict peripheral vision
- Doesn’t restrict airflow across your neck (sun capes can get surprisingly hot and stuffy)
- Offers 360 degree bug protection when combined with a bug net (trucker hats often leave bug nets lying right up against the back of your neck)
- Doesn’t add unwanted insulation (you have to wear an entire sun hoody to get the benefits of head and neck protection)
The main concerns with bucket hats are brim length and breathability. If the brim on the back is too long it will bump into your backpack on every step which gets annoying very quickly – my Outdoor Research Sol Sun Hat never made it past a single hike for this reason. On the other hand a shorter brim provides less sun protection. I find the short 2.5″ brims to be ideal and they provide adequate sun protection when paired with a collared shirt.
Many bucket hats (including this one) just have a couple holes in the sides of the hat for breathability but in the real world I find this ineffective. Mesh side panels are a much better option. I’ve since retired this hat in favor of the Alchemi Labs Bucket Hat for this reason. There’s no sense in wearing a hat to keep the sun off your head if it also makes you hot and miserable.
My experience is that bucket hats are less sunglasses-friendly than trucker hats and baseball caps so anticipate keeping your glasses somewhere else while not in use.
Finally, a chin cord is a nice option for keeping your hat from blowing away.